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Moss has the moves

By JOE FRISARO

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 1, 2000

MIAMI -- Santana Moss insists he won't strike any Heisman Trophy poses. But the senior receiver/return specialist had a couple chances Thursday night. Twice in the first half, Moss went untouched on 70-plus yard touchdown jaunts. Moss sprinted 77 yards on a punt return in the first quarter. On a flanker reverse in the second quarter, Moss dashed 75 yards for his second breakaway score.

Coach Butch Davis said all-purpose yards will be key if Moss is to have a shot at winning the Heisman. Moss compiled 204 all-purpose yards, 34 yards per touch.

Moss has returned three punts for touchdowns in his past four regular-season games.

Miami sports information director Doug Walker said the school is taking a low-key approach to publicizing Moss' Heisman bid.

"We want to let his performance do the talking," Walker said. "We don't want to put him in a spot where he feels pressured."

The Hurricanes mention Moss as a Heisman candidate on their Web site -- www.hurricanesports.com. And the school has released to the media a CD-Rom promoting several of their top players.

Walker said last year Wisconsin used a similar approach promoting Ron Dayne, who won the award after becoming the leading rusher in Division I-A history.

PICK ON SOMEONE . . . : Not surprisingly, Miami has dominated play against smaller division schools. Before facing McNeese State, UM has beaten its past five Division I-AA opponents by a combined score of 280-29. That averages to 56-6 a game. The last time the Hurricanes lost to a smaller ranked division team was 1979, when they fell 16-13 to Florida A&M. By the way, McNeese State's payday for serving as a punching bag was $250,000.

MORE PICKS FOR MYERS: With 5:42 left in the first quarter, Miami cornerback Leonard Myersmade his third interception in his past four games.

RINGING MORGAN'S BELL: Middle linebacker Dan Morgan, a Butkus Award candidate, left in the second quarter with dizziness. The UM medical staff worked on him in the locker room. He didn't return. Morgan is expected to be ready when Miami travels to Washington. He entered his final collegiate season with 379 tackles, 112 tackles shy of a school record.

WAYNE FINDS END ZONE ... TWICE: Senior receiver Reggie Wayne caught two touchdowns on end zone fade patterns. Wayne has touchdown receptions in four straight games. He has 12 in his career, tying James Cox (1965-67) for fifth on the UM list.

PAIN IN THE NECK: Sheven Marshall (neck), the starting outside linebacker, didn't dress. The junior has had the problem since last year. Sophomore Ken Dangerfield started in place of Marshall. Weakside linebacker depth is a concern with freshman D.J. Williams switched to fullback. Williams, a Parade All-American from Concord, Calif., is the third-string fullback. ... Backup safety James Scott sprained his left ankle in the third quarter.

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